Course

Marine Corps Marathon Course Pre-Race and Start Line Baggage Information and Volunteer check-in Finish Line and Post Race Directions Medical/Aid stations Street Closings Food/Waterpoints   marine corps marathon course A rare feat.  The MCM will utilize the same course in consecutive years.  The 2009 course showcases the best of Arlington, VA and the nation's capital. The USATF certified route starts in Arlington, VA, and winds its way through Rosslyn along Lee Highway before turning on Spout Run and the George Washington Parkway. Runners will experience a climb on Lee Highway in the first few miles of the course, but are rewarded with a descent along Spout Run and the Parkway. After crossing Key Bridge into Georgetown, runners turn toward the Palisades Community when the course follows Canal Road, up to the reservoir and down MacArthur Boulevard.  The course guides runners down popular M Street in Georgetown. Runners will turn on Wisconsin Avenue and then K Street. The course passes the Kennedy Center and takes runners into Hains Point at approximately the halfway point of the race. Outside Potomac Park, runners pass the Jefferson Memorial before entering the National Mall and running by landmarks like the Lincoln, FDR, Korean War and Vietnam Veteran's memorials, Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capitol.  Runners continue along Jefferson Drive and turn onto 14th Street to "Beat the Bridge" at Mile 20 before returning to Virginia. For the last 10K runners will venture to color and energy of Crystal City, pass the Pentagon and charge the hill to the finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. It is truly a beautiful course and aptly nicknamed "The Marathon of the Monuments." PRE-RACE AND start LINE The Marine Corps Marathon will begin at 7:50 a.m. for the wheelchair and hand cycle participants. Runners will start at 8:00 a.m.  All participants are invited to attend prayer services, held in Runners Village at 6:00 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. TAKE METRO Service begins at 5 a.m. for MCM runners and spectators on race morning. Marathon runners should use the Pentagon Station (blue or yellow line) to enter Runner's Village in the Pentagon North Parking lot and pre-race UPS Baggage Drop off.  Arlington Cemetery (blue line) may be used for easy access to the start for spectators and those runners not utilizing pre-race support in Runners Village.  The All New MCM10K will start at the Smithsonian Metro (blue line).  Runners are encouraged to pre-purchase farecards.  On marathon day, it is recommended that runners store their Metro card in a zip lock bag so it does not get wet during the race. Wet farecards will not feed properly through Metro's machines.  PARKING Free parking is available in Crystal City at the corner of 23rd & Crystal Drive. Pre-race shuttle service from this parking location to Runner's Village begins at 5:30 a.m. Additionally, runners coming from Virginia may wish to park at the Vienna Metro Station parking deck and take a short Metro ride to the event. Post-race shuttles will return runners and spectators to 23rd & Crystal Drive in Crystal City. SHUTTLES Pre-race shuttle will run from 23rd & Crystal Drive in Crystal City to Runner's Village in the Pentagon North Parking Lot. Post-race shuttles will be located at the base of the Finish Festival on Lynn Street and 19th Street. Post-race shuttles return runners and spectators to 23rd & Crystal Drive in Crystal City (blue and yellow Metro lines). INFO Visit the Main Info tent in the Finish Festival on the Route 50 overpass in Rosslyn, or the Runners' Village Info tent in the Pentagon North parking lot for general information, specatator guides, medical info and more. BIBS Runners are required to wear their participant bib, with number on the front of their clothing. Designed to motivate runners through their run, and to encourage spectators to cheer for runners by name, the MCM will offer these special bibs at the Health and Fitness Expo. Simply pick one up as part of Packet Pick-up, write in the perfect name or phrase, and pin to race day clothing. The 2008 MCM Participant Bib includes four tear-off coupons along the bottom.  The coupons are to be exchanged for the following items and/or services: participant mock neck shirt at the Health and Fitness Expo; post-race complimentary massage courtesy of Aetna in the Finish Festival; free sample of Michelob Ultra in the Finish Festival Beer Garden; and the coveted USAA Finisher Coin. CORRALS Runners will line up by expected finish time on the start line and will be able to choose their appropriate corral on race morning. Bib numbers are not related to corral assignments. Below are the corral designations which will be labeled by signs in the starting area: Expected Finish Time Pace Per Mile Expected Finish Time Pace Per Mile Hours:Minutes Minutes:Seconds Hours:Minutes Minutes:Seconds 2:30 - 2:59 5:43 - 6:50 4:10 - 4:29 9:32 - 10:15 3:00 - 3:19 6:52 - 7:36 4:30 - 4:59 10:18 - 11:24 3:20 - 3:39 7:37- 8:21 5:00 - 5:29 11:27 - 12:33 3:40 - 3:59 8:23 - 9:07 5:30 - 5:59 12:35 - 13:42 4:00 - 4:09 9:09 - 9:30 6:00 plus 13:44 - 14:00* Runners will need to maintain a pace of 14:00 per mile to “Beat the Bridge” just after mile marker 19. PACE TEAMS Trying to reach a time goal? Run with the ClifBar Pace Team. Sign up at the Expo for pace groups with the following expected finish times: 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, 5:00, 5:30. HEADPHONES AND IPODS The MCM follows USA Track and Field rules regarding the use of headphones and other equipment on the MCM course. Rule 144, Section 3B has recently been amended and now states: The following shall be considered assistance and therefore not allowed: (f) The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area. The Games Committee for an LDR (long distance running) event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however, those competing in Championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices. TIMING ChronoTrack Timing Systems, Inc. will record the results of runners along the 2009 course. The system, which replaces ChampionChip, will utilize a light-weight disposable timing tag.  The “D-tag” will record a runner’s official time, beginning when a participant crosses the start line and concluding as he or she passes the finish, as well as split times every 5K along the course. Runners will recieve their D-tag on their race bib. Learn more about the D-tag system. Gun time will be utilized in determining awards for the top three male and female finishers. All other awards are calculated by chip time. The course will close at 3:30 p.m. and all runners must reach the finish by this time. Learn about finish times required to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Please use the clear plastic bag provided at Packet Pick-up. UPS baggage trucks will be located in Runners Village at Pentagon North parking lot. Be sure to affix the sticker, received in your runner packet, to your clear plastic bag for easy retrieval. 

After the marathon, MCM runners may pick up their bag in the Finish Festival at the corner of  Fairfax Drive and Fort Myer Drive. Please do not deposit valuable items. Neither the Marine Corps Marathon nor UPS is liable for lost items.  

Runners and spectators information and Lost and Found is located at the finish area near Link-up.

Information will provide maps, information about general medical status for runners on the course or finish, and will have a lost and found area.

Volunteers working at the Finish Area site, please check in at Information prior to reporting time.

After crossing the finish line, beaming with pride, runners often wonder what happens next? At times, the finish line can be crowded with as many as 100 finishers per minute so its best to know what to expect. Marathon finishers will receive their finisher's medal and space blanket from the men and women of the Marine Corps stationed directly behind the finish line.

Immediately following the presentation of the medal, runners may have their finish photo taken in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial by MarathonFoto. There is no greater image to reflect the commitment and dedication required to finish a marathon than a runner proudly wearing the MCM finisher medal in front of the Marines hoisting the flag on Iwo Jima.

POST RACE HOSPITALITY
After receiving a finisher medal, runners proceed to the Hospitality Area to
replenish with a variety of post-race food and drink before heading to the
Finish Festival.

Runners will receive a hospitality bag including items like bagels, bananas, granola bars, Snyder's pretzels, dried fruit, Aquafina bottled water and POWERade.  MCM Hospitality is coordinated by Sodexo.

FINISH FESTIVAL
Runners, specatators and the local community are invited to the MCM Finish Festival, located in Rosslyn, VA. Here runners and families may reunite in the Family Link Up area, receive a post-race massage, pick up bags at the UPS trucks and enjoy other entertainment, food and sponsor-hosted activities.  Visit the Finish Festival page for more information.

FAMILY LINK UP
Runners and their support crew should plan to meet in Family Link Up, part of the Finish Festival in Rosslyn, along Lynn Street, Wilson Boulevard and Fort Myer Drive. The MCM recommends choosing the first letter of the runner's last name as the pre-planned location to reunite. The link-up areas are designated by 13-foot tall, yellow towers with letters of the alphabet prominently displayed.

FINISHER COINS COURTESY OF USAA
All MCM finishers will be eligible to receive a collectable MCM Finisher Coin courtesy of USAA. In the spirit of the military tradition for rewarding excellence, USAA will mint and distribute this limited edition coin. The tear-off coupon, necessary to redeem the coin, will be located on all marathon participant bibs.

Finisher Coins are still available. If you did not receive yours, please contact USAA at 1-800-531-USAA.

TRANSPORTATION
Metro and post-race shuttles are located at the end of the Finish Festival. The post-race shuttles return runners and spectators to 23rd and Crystal Drive in Crystal City (blue and yellow Metro lines).

RESULTS AND PHOTOS
Finish results will be available through the Remote Runner Tracking service at the Check Your Runner station in the Finish Festival or on the MCM website.


CHARITY VILLAGE
After enjoying the MCM's post race hospitality, runners participating with a Charity Partner will want to cross the parade deck to reach Charity Village to meet up with their group, claim their baggage and celebrate their accomplishment!

To the start:
The start line is located on Rt 110, near Arlington Memorial Bridge in Arlington, VA. The MCM highly recommends the use of Metro for access to the start line, via the Pentagon Station.

To the Race Headquarters Hotel:
The Race Headquarters Hotel is the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. For directions and further information, click here.

To the Expo:
The Health and Fitness Expo is located at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Click here for directions.

For Metro Information:
Getting around is easy with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro).  Be sure to get your map, and check fares and schedules.

The safety of MCM Runners is of the utmost importance to the many Navy and Civilian medical personnel on the course, throughout the day. The 2009 Aid Stations will be located in the following areas:

AS1/2: Canal Street between the Key Bridge and Whitehurst Freeway on the riverside grassy area.  
AS3/5: Independence Ave and Ohio Drive in West Potomac Park near the Lincoln Memorial.
AS4: Ohio and Buckeye Drive underneath overpass on the Washington Channel side of East Potomac Park.
AS6: 14^th Street and Madison Drive NW.
AS7: Jefferson Drive and 14^th Street SW.
AS8/9: Army/Navy Drive and Eads Street working from the Fern Street Parking lot. Also supports the MCM10K.
AS10: Route 110 off ramp and North Pentagon parking lot. Also supports the MCM10K.
AS11: Near the Arlington Memorial Drive overpass supporting the MCM and MCM10K

Finish Area:
Med 1 is located near the Marine Corps War Memorial.
Med 2 is located near walkway and Netherlands Carrilon at the finish area.

Information
Medical personnel will track runners and record medical data to ensure timely updates to families of runners being treated. This information will be available at the MCM Info tents. Visit the Main Info tent on N. Meade Street and Hwy 50 off ramp, near the Finish Festival.

Runners are offered replenishment stations throughout the course and at the finish.

FOOD STATIONS
FS1: Oranges on Rockcreek Parkway after turning from K Street NW prior to Virginia Avenue.

FS2: Clif Shots at Ohio Drive before Water Point 6 and 
the end of Hains Point in East Potomac Park along the parking area prior to mile marker 13.  CLIF BAR's great tasting, natural Energy Gel, Clif SHOT will be on the course in the following flavors: Viva Vanilla, Mocha Mocha, Sonic 
                                    Strawberry, Razz Sorbet, Mmm...Chocolate, Cola Buzz, Orange Creamsicle, 
                                    and Go Mango.



    FS3: Jelly Belly Sport Beans at the intersection of Jefferson Dr SW and 7^th Street SW
    along the National Mall beyond mile marker 19. Sport Beans™ jelly beans are formulated
    with electrolytes, carbohydrates and vitamins B and C to sustain and replenish energy 
    during intense exercise. This revolutionary product maximizes performance and ensures
    ideal portion control, with four delicious flavors that will keep you going.

    The hospitality area at the Finish also offers a variety of nutritious
    replenishment to ensure recovery including bagels, bananas, bottled water,
    POWERade, Synder's pretzels and more!

 WATER POINTS
WP1: Eastbound Lee Highway between Wayne and Adams Streets
WP2: On Key Bridge at Ft. Myer Drive after roadway widens onto the bridge
WP3: On Reservoir Road at MacArthur Blvd
WP4: Intersection of M and 34th Streets 
WP5/7: Independence Ave and Ohio Dr SW at West Potomac Park
WP6: Ohio Drive SW parking area near the tip of Hains Point 
WP8: At Madison Dr NW and 12^th St NW along the National Mall
WP9: At Jefferson Dr SW and 12^th St SW along the National Mall.  Also supports the start of the MCM10K.
WP10/11: Army/Navy Drive at the Eads Street auxiliary parking lot. Also supports the MCM10K.
WP12: On Route 110 behind the MCM corrals.  Also supports the MCM10K.


The MCM will use POWERade as energy drink in the Mixed Berry Blast flavor.  POWERade will be filling more than 180,000 cups across all 12 water points to aid runners in maintaining proper hydration. POWERade combines carbohydrates with fluids for energy and hydration. It quenches thirst and replenishes minerals and carbohydrates lost during the running of a marathon. The 2009 POWERade flavor will be Mixed Berry Blast!